Booster conveyer for gravity conveyer systems



A. G. ROSE April 22, 1952 BOOSTER CONVEYER FOR GRAVITY CONVEYER SYSTEMS2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed April 20 l/Wf/VMR. ANDREW 6. R05:

April 22, 1952 A. G. ROSE 2,593,699

BOOSTER CONVEYER F OR GRAVITY CONVEYER SYSTEMS Filed April 20, 1946 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 I INVENTOR.

A/VO/Pih/ a. 062 B Patented Apr. 22, 1952 BOOSTER CONVEYER FOR GRAVITYCONVEYER SYSTEMS Andrew G. Rose, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Jervis .B.Webb Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationApril 20; 1946,1Serial No. 663,708 #e This invention relates to overheadconveyor systems and more particularly to a power driven boosterconveyor for use in raising free trolleys from one track level toanother.

In the conventional overhead conveyor system,

a power driven chain may be provided throughout the length of theconveyor line with means for connecting such chain to the load carryingtrolleys. Such connecting means may be of a fixed type or, where theconveyor system is provided with branch tracks leading to and from amain conveyor track, the driving connection may be severable as withpusher dogs provided in the power chain to engage driven dogs providedin free trolleys.

While such continuous power conveyor systems are very satisfactory froman operational stand point, theircost in comparison with the hand pushedor gravity type of free trolley conveyor system is necessarilyrelatively 'high. .On the other hand; the latter systems are normallysubject to certain limitations as where the track .level must. be raisedfrom one floor to another,

or in the case of a gravity systemywhere the length of travel of theconveyor line is such that.

the level'of the track must be raised at certain intervalswhere th trackapproaches too'close to the floor level.

By providing a power driven means for propelling the .free trolleysalong such upwardly in-v clined sections of track, these limitations maybe overcome" while retaining basic economies over the continuous powerconveyor system.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide means forpropelling free trolleys while traveling on upwardly inclined sectionsof 1 a conveyor track.

- Another object of the invention is to incorporate the use of a powerdriven chain in propelling such I trolleys.

' between the power chain and free trolleys at the entrance to anupwardly inclined section of the A furtherobject of the invention is toprovide means for causing engagement of drivin means 6 Claims. (Cl.104-94) appear more clearly from the following detailed description of aparticular embodiment of the invention and from an examination of thedrawings forming a part hereof and wherein,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the conveyor track and booster arrangementat an upwardly inclined section of the conveyor track.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the power chain in driving engagement witha trolley bracket, the nearer portion of the tracks for thepower chaiand free trolleys being omitted- Fig-.15 is a diagrammatic plan view ofa gravity conveyor layout employing a, plurality of booster .'sectionsas required at intervals where the track level is raised.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the layout shown in Fig. 5, five booster sections are employedidentified as Al to A5 respectively. Track switches BI and B2, which maybe operated by well known manual or power means not shown, serve toconnect a main conveyor loop Cl with either of branch lines C2 or 03. Itis apparent that by using proper spacing of the booster sections Al-A5and slope in the track, as indicated in Fig. 6, free load trolleys l4may be continuously circulated throughout desired alternate routes ofthe conveyor system and adapted for whatever operation might be desiredalong the respective paths, thereby providing a very flexible power andfree sytem without involving the expense of a continuous power linethroughout the conveyor system.

With reference to these figures, the conveyor track l0 comprises twoopposed channel members of which the upper surfaces l2 of the lowerflanges H form a path for trolley wheels l3 to roll on.

-. The trolley bracket l4 supported by such wheels extends downwardlybetween the bottomiianges ll of the conveyor track and is provided withany suitable well-known means or devices for supporting or carrying aload L. As the conveyor track It), in this case is shown as a gravityconveyor system, it is constructed with a gradual downward slope asindicated by the horizontal lines I5, such slope being suificient topermit the force of gravity exerted on'the free trolleys and their loadsto move them along'the conveyor track.

At any suitable point or points along the conveyors line of travel whereit is necessary or dechain track 22. the power chain Hi, the lowersprocket i8 is sirable to raise the line to a higher position above thefioor or to a higher floor, a booster conveyor is provided. Suchconveyor has an endless power chain l6 that travels around a sprocket I!at the upper level and a sprocket It at the lower level of the conveyortrack It. A motor l9, through a set of reduction gears 2d, and -a chainand sprocket transmission a drives the upper sprocket IT in acounter-clockwise direction. The power chain E8, of the type variouslycalled Keystone, Rivetless or Weston chain and .originally disclosed inthe Weston Patent No. 70,794, consists of a plurality of alternatelyarranged center links [9b and .slde barsf. lfic. Each center link [6bconsists of an integral' piece of metal having an elongated slot at eachend. A pair of side bars I60 each having an elongated slot at each endis pivotally connected to' each end of said center link by headedIocking-pinsZ l, the heads seating in a transversely extending recess onthe outer face of each end; of said side 'bars 160. Atspaced intervals,however, special locking :pins Zia are "provided with cylindricalextensions to serve as journals for rotatable chain'wheel lzfia.

A lower chain track 2.2 and'upper chain track 23 each constructed ofopposed.structural'channel :members similar to those used for theconveyor track Ill serves to guide the power chain 18,

the upper and lower flanges of such .channel members providing a trackfor thewheels its to ride on. Pusher dogs 2% aresuita'cly carried bythechain 16 at longitudinally spaced intervals and extend downwardlybetween the lower flanges 25 of the lower chain track22- 22 is formedand assembled parallel'to the uplward'ly inclined portion 28 or"theconveyor' track clined downwardly toward the conveyor track It thuscausing the power chain id and the driving dogs 24 carried-thereon to begradually lowered to a driving level behind the dog 23 of any loadcarrying bracket member M which enters the approach to the inclinedsection 23 of the conveyor track lil.

Such arrangement provides for a substantial interval of engagementbefore entering the upwardly inclined section'which avoids thepossibility of a loaded trolley traveling into the up- "ward curve andthen falling back without engagement by the .drive chain.

Such arrangement also facilitates takeeup adiustmentsof the drive chain.

The upper chain track 523, which extends between the upper surface ofthe sprockets ll and i8, is formed at its lower end 33 parallel to thedownwardly inclined portion 29 of the lower Inorder to provide take-upfor mounted in bearings-3i by means of a transverse shaft .32 and thebearings 3i turnmounted .in slidable-=rectangular block members 33 eachof which is slidably positioned between two angle members M. Alongitudinal groove :35 -(seeFig. 3) on either edge of the block members33 pro- Each free trolley I4 is providedwi'thia pair of dogs 2 5extending upwardly between the upper flanges 2'5 or the conveyor tracktil. The lower chain track attached to the sides of the respective trackmembers. The latter members 40 and 4| also :serve tosupport a platform42 and 43 for the gear reducer 23 and motor l9 respectively. Journals4'4 of the sprocket I1 and the sprocket drive wheel 45- are also.mounted on the vertical angle members 4 I.

While the conveyor system is in operation, the motor 19 through gearreducer 29 and chain and sprocket transmission 23a continuouslydrivessprocket I! in a counter-clockwise direction causing the powerchain It to be continuously in motion. Thus, Whenany load carryingtrolley l-i enters the approach to the upwardly inclined conveyor tracksection 28, it is automatically engaged by the dogs'M of the boosterconveyor and propelled to the new level. By providing an upwardlyinclined section and booster such as described above at intervals in theconveyor track as required, a gravity conveyor line of any length may beprovided.

While a particular embodiment of my invention has been describedherein,it may be readily understood that numerous changes; in the detailedconstruction thereof may be resorted to I without departing from thespirit of the invention-as defined in the following claims.

I claim: 1; A trolley conveyor system characterizedb an endless trolleytrack, a plurality of power driven trolley boosters along said track,said track being inclined downwardly from the exit end of any boosterstation .to the entrance end of the next succeeding booster station,gravity providing the sole trolley propelling force between said boosterstations.

2. An industrial trolley conveyor system 'for transporting work loadscomprising an endless track, generally free load carrying trolleysadapted to travel along said track, said track having relatively steepupwardly. inclined and gradual downwardly inclined sections, a power.driven booster at each upwardly inclined section adapted to engagetrolleys as'they approach said section, to propel them to the top ofsaid section and thereupon'discharge them onto the adjacent downwardlyinclined section, gravity providing the sole trolley propelling force oneach downwardly inclined section.

3. An overhead trolley conveyor system for transporting work loads in anindustrial plant characterized by an endless track, generally free loadcarrying trolleys adapted to vtravel along said track, a plurality ofrelatively steep up- Wardlyincli-ned sections in said track joined byaplurality of gradual downwardly inclined sections, 2. power drivenbooster at each upwardly inclined track section adapted to engageapproaching trolleys, propel them up said track section and dischargethem onto the adjacent downwardly inclined section, gravity providingthesole propelling force for said trolleys between said boosterstations.

sLAn overhead trolley conveyor system for transporting work loads in anindustrial plant comprising arr-endless track, generally .tree loadcarrying trolleys adapted to travel along said track, said track havinga plurality of relatively steep upwardly inclined sections joined by aplurality of downwardly inclined sections, an endless power driven chainadjacent each of said upwardly inclined sections, sprocket members fordriving and changing the direction of said chain, and cooperatingmembers on said chain and trolleys for causing said chain to drivinglyengage approaching trolleys and propel them to the higher level of saidtrack, gravity providing the sole trolley propelling force betweenbooster stations.

An overhead trolley conveyor system for transporting work loads in anindustrial plant comprising an endless track, generally free loadcarrying trolleys adapted to travel along said track, said track havinga plurality of relatively steep upwardly inclined sections joined by aplurality of downwardly inclined sections, an endless power driven chainadjacent each of said upwardly inclined sections, sprocket members fordriving and changing the direction of said chain, cooperating members onsaid chain and trolleys for causing said chain to drivingly engageapproaching trolleys and propel them to the higher level of said track,and a chain track positioned substantially parallel to said upwardlyinclined section of conveyor track for guiding the driving portion ofsaid chain into driving engagement with approaching trolleys andmaintaining said engagement throughout their travel up said conveyortrack section, and until the trolleys reach the adjacent downwardlyinclined conveyor track section, gravity providing the sole trolleypropelling force between booster stations.

6. An overhead trolley conveyor system for transporting work loads in anindustrial plant comprising an endless track, generally free loadcarrying trolleys adapted to travel along said track, said track havinga plurality of relatively steep upwardly inclined sections joined by aplurality of downwardly inclined sections, an endless ower driven chainadjacent each of said upwardly inclined sections, sprocket members fordriving and changing the direction of said chain, cooperating members onsaid chain and trolleys for causing said chain to drivingly engageapproaching trolleys and propel them to the higher level of said track,and a chain track positioned substantially parallel to said upwardlyinclined section of conveyor track for guiding and holding the drivingportion of said chain in driving engagement with said trolleysthroughout their travel along said upwardly inclined track section, aportion of said chain track adjacent to the approach to said upwardlyinclined section of conveyor track being inclined toward said conveyortrack in a manner whereby the chain passing through said portion will begradually brought into driving position with respect to trolleysapproaching said upwardly inclined section thereby insuring entrapmentof each trolley by the time its momentum is expended on the upwardlyinclined section of the track, gravity providing the sole trolleypropelling force between booster stations.

ANDREW G. ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 870,704 Weston Nov. 12, 19071,127,753 Glynn Feb. 9, 1915 1,585,605 Russo May 18, 1926 1,920,774 WebbAug. 1, 1933 1,921,109 Webb et al. Aug. 8, 1933 1,949,691 Nehrer et al.Mar. 6, 1934 1,994,032 Angerpointer Mar. 12, 1935 2,058,804 Knies Oct.27, 1936 2,116,430 Gordon May 3, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 41,752 France Jan. 16, 1933 23,921 Great Britain May 22, 1913428,860 Great Britain May 7, 1935

